Plans for homes on former Westwood Fire Station, Broadstairs, revealed
Published: 16:50, 22 December 2023
A plot once home to a fire station could be given a new lease of life – with developers eyeing up the land for a housing estate.
The site in Margate Road, Broadstairs, was used by Kent Fire and Rescue Service until 2011, when crews were moved to Margate and Ramsgate.
Mitchley Developments has now has put forward proposals to use the land for 24 houses and 12 flats.
In papers submitted to Thanet District Council, bosses behind the scheme say it would pay homage to its former use, whilst also making good use of a brownfield site.
“The site is highly unconstrained and as such provides a blank canvas in regards [to] the opportunity to improve the site,” documents say.
“The apartments reflect the historical nature of the site by re-interpreting the fire- station with a residential version of the training tower.
“The development will regenerate a currently underused and derelict area of Westwood.
“The development will provide affordable and shared ownership housing, helping to generate local key worker accommodation for the wider community.”
The site, located between a Tesco Extra and Canterbury Bell pub, would be made up of three-bed homes and 12 two-bed flats. Nine of the apartments and one of the homes would be affordable, developers say.
The timeframe for the project is not yet known.
The old fire station was completely demolished in 2019 but remnants of the firehouse remain, with an underground fuel tank filled to the brim with foam still on the site.
The site went under the hammer in November last year for £700,000 - well below its guide price of £800,000.
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Max Chesson